Hi friends!
Ever since Milk Makeup launched I’ve basically wanted to try the whole line. From their easy, no-nonsense vibe to their sleek, minimal packaging to the muted, more natural colors they offer – every bit appeals to me! If you’re not familiar, most of their makeup and skincare is in creamy stick format; you know I’m obsessed with that! But for some reason I’ve just never bought much at all from them, with the exception of a mini highlighter that I ended up decluttering. I think it’s because overall I enjoy shopping more at Ulta rather than Sephora, which I believe is Milk’s exclusive retailer or main retailer.
ANYWAY, I did buy the cult favorite Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in the shade Baked for my mom last year as she’s a bit of a bronzer devotee. She absolutely loved it so the more and more she kept talking it up to me, the more I wanted to try it of course! So this little baby is currently on loan from my beloved mom, who is very generous when it comes to sharing her makeup with me.
After a few weeks of testing, let’s get into the nitty-gritty now.
WHAT IS THE MILK MAKEUP MATTE BRONZER?
SUMMER IN A STICK.
Easy Application – Contour and bronze in a swipe with easy stick form.
Creamy Formula – Vegan formula includes nourishing ingredients like mango butter and avocado oil for a hydrated glow.
Matte Finish – Natural-looking matte finish makes Bronzer perfect for face and body alike.
VEGAN, CRUELTY-FREE, PARABEN-FREE, SILICONE-FREE, GLUTEN-FREE.
MY THOUGHTS ON PACKAGING
This is a bronzer stick with lightweight plastic packaging. The idea is pretty self-explanatory: you’re supposed to unscrew the clear plastic cap, twist up the product, and swipe the color onto your face. Even though I don’t use it in that way (more on that next), I do like the flexibility the stick format lends you as opposed to, say, a pot of cream bronzer would. In other words, you don’t have to use any tool if you don’t want to with this. If you’re on the go you can just quickly swipe it on.
Is this the most luxurious packaging? Definitely not. My mom’s stick has definitely gotten worn-looking over time, with chips on the lettering and smudges here and there. But it’s definitely still functional and not overly dirty or messy. While I do love expensive-feeling packaging, I’m much more concerned with the quality of the product inside anyway.
RATING: 4 / 5 ⭐️
MY THOUGHTS ON APPLICATION
So this is how I like to apply this bronzer stick. Personally I don’t like to swipe it across my cheeks directly from the stick, just in case it disturbs the makeup I have underneath. Instead I take my Lancôme Dual-End Foundation and Corrector Brush #26, swipe it back and forth across the stick to pick up product, and gently swirl and pat the cream product across my cheeks. (NOTE: I tend to wear bronzer much like how I wear blush – starting from the outer-apples of my cheeks, taking it up high on the cheekbones.)
The texture of the cream isn’t overly thick or thin; I’d say it’s somewhere in the middle. It blends out with a brush quite seamlessly with no harsh edges. If you prefer to use your fingers, you also shouldn’t have a problem with the blending. Once it’s on the skin, the cream feels very moisturizing. This is definitely for all those dry-skinned folks out there who love their cream bronzers!
RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️
Read this: How I learned to use cream contour, feat. Clinique Chubby Contour Stick
MY THOUGHTS ON PIGMENTATION AND FINISH
The pigment here is very, very buildable which I love in a bronzer. And since it’s a cream, the finish is very natural. It actually gives a lovely subtle sheen to the skin. So even though “matte” is in the name, don’t be put off by that if you prefer more satin or dewy textures.
RATING: 5 / 5 ⭐️
MY THOUGHTS ON SHADE / TONE
Unfortunately Milk only stocks the Matte Bronzer in two shades: Baked (the lighter version I have), and Blaze (a deep bronze more suited to darker skin tones). I think this is kinda unfortunate because I would personally like to see more shades and undertones in this range. For example, I would say Baked is suitable for lighter skin tones but only if you have a warmer undertone. On my fair cool-toned skin, Baked pulls quite yellowy-orange so I have to be careful not to go too overboard for fear of looking oddly muddy. They should really take a page from the Fenty Sun Stalk’r Bronzer release.
RATING: 3 / 5 ⭐️

Swatch of the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in the shade Baked at full pigment.
MY THOUGHTS ON WEAR
I wouldn’t say this is the most long-wearing cream product I’ve used, but it’s not horrible either. While there is some color and definition left on my cheeks after a full day’s wear (i.e. around 10-11 hours of wear), it’s definitely faded by that point. If you really want to ensure the wear of this product, I’d recommend setting it with a powder bronzer.
RATING: 4 / 5 ⭐️
Read this: Fenty Beauty vs. Physician’s Formula: Bronzer showdown
MY THOUGHTS ON PRICE
You pay $28.00 for 30 mL of product with the Matte Bronzer, which is squarely in what I call the “mid-market” range. For the price I wish the product lasted longer on the skin throughout the day, but honestly I don’t know of any lower-cost or drugstore alternatives to a cream product like this. (If anyone knows differently, please let me know in the comments!)
RATING: 4 / 5 ⭐️

Wearing the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in Baked across my cheeks.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall I do really enjoy using this product since I’m such a sucker for cream makeup products. The texture is really emollient, easy-to-apply, sheers out very well, and gives a beautifully natural finish to the skin. If you like products with creamy, buildable pigment and a light finish, I think you’d really go for this. I just wish they would expand their shade range.
Have you tried the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer before? Do you prefer cream or powder bronzers? I’d love to know!
xo, Erica
PIN IT!
I was always drawn to the Milk Makeup packaging because of the simplicity. I also love how convenient the products are. You can easily blend with fingers while traveling. Great post.
Thanks girl! Me too, their sleek packaging is so pleasing 😊.
I love their packaging and the name itself makes me want to purchase it. 😀 It looks a lot bigger than I thought. That’s not a bad price for that size.
It actually is quite large and you do get a decent amount of product for the price. Also, it’s so hard to find good quality cream products at a lower cost anyway.
Great review! I have a mini of this that I got in a set over the holidays. I don’t usually use cream face products, but I really like this and use it when I remember to, LOL!
I didn’t realize they did a mini, I love that! It’s a good one. Thanks so much for reading!
Love , love, love this bronzer ! 😉 Creams are so easy to apply plus they are moisturizing… this particular bronzer also smells like Play Doh so how can you go wrong! 😉
I noticed that smell too!
Thanks for the review Erica! It sounds like a keeper! I had to tell you, my 8 year old granddaughter brought her make up with her over the weekend and gave me a makeover! lol
Oh how sweet! 😁
I love the look of this, so creamy and effective. I’m really surprised too that they only have 2 shades, so bizarre x
The texture is lovely, but yea two shades is just bad!
I love the look of their products. I only ever tried a water stick or something like that a few years ago and I really loved it. I hope I can buy a few of their products this year.
But anyway, shame that they only have two shades for the bronzer, I definitely see the yellowish tone in the swatch.
Maybe their products will make me like creamy products lol
Yea maybe! Sometimes it just takes one good quality product to convert someone! They really need to expand their shade range, c’mon.
Milk has always been an interesting brand to me, too but, two shades is definitely not a big enough range & I can see what you mean, that it pulls a bit orange on your cheeks. It still looks super cute though. Did you decide to buy your own stick!?
Yea they totally need to produce more shades & undertones, c’mon! I really like the texture and the finish so it gets me all kinds of irritated 😉. I haven’t taken the plunge and bought my own stick though. Although I can make it work on me, I’d rather not spend another $30 on something that doesn’t necessarily suit me, ya know? It suits my mom so much better so I’m really glad I got it for her!
Maybe they are working on more shades 😉 fingers crossed! Lol.
🤞🏼